November 30, 2022, 4:40 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Santa Monica is one of those places you immediately and inevitably associate with the beach. And with celebrities. Both are true, but the city in the greater Los Angeles area has much more to offer. Two legendary streets, for example. A special shopping center. And, of course, a world-famous amusement park.
Santa Monica is about 16 miles from downtown Los Angeles. But it actually feels like a neighborhood. For good reason, as Santa Monica is surrounded on three sides by the metropolis and on the fourth side by the sea. Nevertheless, the city is independent, and it even has its own laws. One law tourists should know: Pedestrians are prohibited from crossing streets anywhere other than at crosswalks and traffic lights. If you do, it’s actually punishable.
Tips and inspiration from this article can also be heard in the following podcast episode of “In 5 Minutes Around the World”–narrated by Maurice Laaß.
Celebrities Love Santa Monica
Right at the feet of the metropolis and yet peaceful–that’s what makes Santa Monica so appealing to celebrities. The wide, lifeguard-patrolled dream beach certainly doesn’t hurt, especially since some of the beautiful houses are right by the sea. The beaches, with excellent infrastructure from shops to eateries to restrooms, stretch north to Malibu and south to Redondo Beach–wide, with fine sand and equipment where many train their muscles.
Stars like Clark Gable and Greta Garbo lived in Santa Monica; today, it’s Meryl Streep, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Jeff Bridges. Among the celebrities born in the city are Sean Penn, Robert Redford, Anjelica Huston, and Suzanne Vega. The chances of encountering stars are not great–unless they happen to be at the next table in restaurants like the two-Michelin-starred Citrin and Mélisse (1104 Wilshire Blvd.).
The Ocean Front Walk is also ideal for seeing and being seen, a wide path along the beach that’s popular for jogging, biking, and inline skating. On one side, palm trees line the Ocean Front Walk, and on the other, shops and restaurants. Street vendors and musicians give the promenade a unique atmosphere.
What You Must See and Do
The main attraction in the city is the Santa Monica Pier with its namesake amusement park visible from afar. Built in 1909, it’s a popular destination for neighbors from Los Angeles with its Ferris wheel and roller coaster. The pier is also the end of the legendary Route 66–and while we’re on famous roads: Highway 1, known here as the Pacific Coast Highway, also runs through Santa Monica.
Those living or vacationing in Santa Monica don’t need to go to Los Angeles to shop (though Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills is certainly tempting). With the Third Street Promenade, one of the few pedestrian zones in the greater Los Angeles area, Santa Monica has an attractive shopping street. Many shops and restaurants can be found on the Third Street Promenade, including Abercrombie & Fitch, American Apparel, Banana Republic, Barnes & Noble (bookstore), Clarks, Converse, Desigual, Fred Segal, Guess, Patagonia, Quiksilver, Skechers, and Victoria’s Secret. Street performers create a pleasant atmosphere–and the seeing and being seen works here too.
by Silke Böttcher